DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to applicant’s response filed under 37 C.F.R. §1.111 in response to a non-final office action. Claims 16-35 have been amended. Claims 16-35 are subject to examination.
Acknowledgement is made to the Applicant’s amendment to claims 16, 27, 33, and 35 to obviate the previous 112(b) rejection to claims 16, 27, 33, and 35. The previous 112(b) rejection to claims 16, 27, 33, and 35 is hereby withdrawn.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 16 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 16, 18-27, 29-33, and 35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Matsumura et al. (US 2024/0154667 A1).
Regarding Claim 1, Matsumura teaches a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication comprising: at least one memory (Matsumura: the above-described ... user terminal 20 may each be formed as a computer apparatus that includes ... a memory 1002, see paragraph [0307]); and
at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory (Matsumura: the above-described ... user terminal 20 may each be formed as a computer apparatus that includes a processor 1001 ... a bus 1007, see paragraph [0307]) and configured to cause the UE to:
receive a configuration of one channel measurement resource (CMR) set, wherein resources within the CMR set are associated with one or more non-serving cells for channel measurement that are associated with a CSI-ReportConfig information element (IE) with reportQuantity set to 'cri-RSRP' or 'ssb-Index-RSRP' (Matsumura: The UE may be notified of information related to CSI reporting ... by using an RRC information element “CSI-ReportConfig”, see paragraph [0045]; (CSI-ReportConfig) may include report quantity information (“report quantity” which may be expressed by an RRC parameter “reportQuantity”), which is information of a parameter to be reported ... one of parameters defined as the report quantity information (such as cri-RSRP and ssb-Index-RSRP) is configured, see paragraph [0056]; a CSI report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) includes “resourcesForChannelMeasurement”, see paragraph [0101]; Separate channel state information (CSI) report configurations (CSI-ReportConfig) may be configured for an RS of the serving cell and an RS of the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0104]); and
transmit a channel state information (CSI) report configured by the CSI-ReportConfig IE and including K >=1 CSI-RS resource indicators (CRIs) or synchronization signal block resource indicators (SSBRIs) and a measured layer 1 reference signal resource power (L1-RSRP) value for a resource associated with a non-serving cell indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs, wherein K is a number of beams of the one or more non-serving cells (Matsumura: The UE configured with the higher layer parameter (for example, an RRC parameter “groupBasedBeamReporting”) included in the CSI report configuration information being enabled may include, in a beam report, a plurality of resource IDs for beam measurement (for example, SSBRIs and CRIs) and a plurality of measurement results (for example, L1-RSRPs) corresponding to the resource IDs for each report configuration, see paragraph [0057]; The number of beams to be reported for the ... non-serving cell may be defined in a specification or may be configured by RRC/MAC CE/DCI or the like in advance, see paragraph [0160]).
Regarding Claim 18, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 16, wherein multiple CMR sets, each of which includes resources associated with a different non-serving cell, are configured (Matsumura: the second group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #i, and ... the third group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #j, see paragraph [0114]), and
wherein the resource indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs is associated with any of the CMR sets (Matsumura: When a plurality of non-serving cells are involved, the UE may order RSs of the non-serving cells according to ... CMR group IDs, see paragraph [0156]).
Regarding Claim 19, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 16, wherein multiple CMR sets, each of which includes resources associated with a different non- serving cell, are configured (Matsumura: the second group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #i, and ... the third group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #j, see paragraph [0114]), and
when a number of the one or more non-serving cells is smaller than K, K is configured as a multiple P of the number of non-serving cells, and the resources indicated by every P of the K CRIs or SSBRIs are associated with a different non-serving cell (Matsumura: when it is configured so that two beams are reported for ... the non-serving cell ... reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 20, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 16, wherein the CSI-ReportConfig IE further includes nrofReportedRS indicating the number N of beams associated with a serving cell, where N is 1 or more (Matsumura: A terminal ... receives one or more channel state information (CSI) report configurations including a configuration of a reference signal of a serving cell and a configuration of a reference signal of a non-serving cell, see paragraph [0010]; The UE configured with the number of report target RS resources being one or more by the higher layer parameter (for example, an RRC parameter “nrofReportedRS”) included in the CSI report configuration information, see paragraph [0058]), and
the CSI report further includes N CRIs or SSBRIs and the measured L1-RSRP value of the resource associated with the serving cell indicated by each of the N CRIs or SSBRIs (Matsumura: The UE configured with ... an RRC parameter “nrofReportedRS” ... may include, in a beam report, one or more resource IDs for beam measurement and one or more measurement results (for example, an L1-RSRP(s)) corresponding to the resource ID(s) for each report configuration, see paragraph [0058]; when it is configured so that two beams are reported for each of the serving cell and the non-serving cell, reporting of the first two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 21, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 20, wherein, when the one CMR set includes two subsets, a first subset of the two subsets includes resources associated with the serving cell and a second subset of the two subsets includes resources associated with the one or more non-serving cells (Matsumura: For example, X CMRs from the first CMR (first X CMRs) ... may mean the serving cell, the next Y (second Y) CMRs ... may mean non-serving cell #i, see paragraph [0114]), and
wherein the resource indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs is associated with any of the non-serving cells (Matsumura: when it is configured so that two beams are reported for each of the serving cell and the non-serving cell, reporting of the first two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the serving cell, and reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 22, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 20, wherein, when the one CMR set includes two subsets, a first subset of the two subsets includes resources associated with the serving cell and a second subset of the two subsets includes resources associated with the one or more non-serving cells (Matsumura: For example, X CMRs from the first CMR (first X CMRs) ... may mean the serving cell, the next Y (second Y) CMRs ... may mean non-serving cell #i, see paragraph [0114]), and
when a number of the non-serving cells is smaller than K, K is configured as a multiple P of the number of non-serving cells, and the resources indicated by every P of the K CRIs or SSBRIs are associated with a different non-serving cell (Matsumura: when it is configured so that two beams are reported for ... the non-serving cell ... reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 23, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 20, wherein, when two CMR sets are configured, a first CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the serving cell, and a second CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the non-serving cells (Matsumura: The first CMR group in csi-SSB-ResourceList means the serving cell, while the remaining CMRs may mean the non-serving cell(s). For example, ... the first group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean the serving cell, ... the second group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #i, see paragraph [0114]), and
wherein the resource indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs is associated with any of the one or more non-serving cells (Matsumura: when it is configured so that two beams are reported for each of the serving cell and the non-serving cell, reporting of the first two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the serving cell, and reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 24, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 20, wherein, when two CMR sets are configured, a first CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the serving cell, and a second CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the non-serving cells (Matsumura: The first CMR group in csi-SSB-ResourceList means the serving cell, while the remaining CMRs may mean the non-serving cell(s). For example, ... the first group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean the serving cell, ... the second group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #i, see paragraph [0114]), and
when a number of the non-serving cells is smaller than K, K is configured as a multiple P of the number of non-serving cells, and the resources indicated by every P of the K CRIs or SSBRIs are associated with a different non-serving cell (Matsumura: when it is configured so that two beams are reported for ... the non-serving cell ... reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Regarding Claim 25, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 16, wherein the resources associated with a different non-serving cell are associated with a different physical cell ID (PCID), and the resources associated with a same non-serving cell are associated with a same PCID (Matsumura: When the UE receives the ... CSI report configuration/CSI resource configuration ... the UE may control transmission (reporting) of a CSI report including information (for example, an indicator) indicating the serving cell/non-serving cell in addition to known report contents ... As information indicating the serving cell/non-serving cell, a new ID ... or a PCI (PCI to be used directly) may be applied. This new ID may depend on RS configuration signaling (CSI report configuration/CSI resource configuration). This new ID may be such that “0” indicates the serving cell, “1” indicates non-serving cell #1, and “2” indicates non-serving cell #2, for example, see paragraphs [0130]-[0132]).
Regarding Claim 26, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 20, wherein, when two CMR sets are configured, a first CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the serving cell, and a second CMR set of the two CMR sets includes resources associated with the non-serving cells (Matsumura: The first CMR group in csi-SSB-ResourceList means the serving cell, while the remaining CMRs may mean the non-serving cell(s). For example, ... the first group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean the serving cell, ... the second group (CMR group) with a new ID/PCI may mean non-serving cell #i, see paragraph [0114]),
wherein a largest measured L1-RSRP value of the resources associated with the first CMR set is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range [-140, -44] dBm with step size of 1dB (Matsumura: when one CSI report configuration includes different CMR groups, an RS of the serving cell is mapped first ... in a report of each of the CMR groups (beam pairs) in the CSI report. In this case, the UE may report a 7-bit RSRP/SINR value (largest value) for each beam, see paragraph [0181]; the highest measurement value of the L1-RSRP is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range of [−140, −44] dBm (with a step size of 1 dB), see paragraph [0143]),
wherein each of the other measured L1-RSRP values of the resources associated with the first CMR set is represented by a differential L1-RSRP value, which is quantized to a 4-bit value with step size of 2dB, relative to a largest measured L1-RSRP value of the resources associated with the first CMR set (Matsumura: When a differential L1-RSRP is used, the highest measurement value of the L1-RSRP is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range of [−140, −44] dBm (with a step size of 1 dB), and a four-bit value is quantized as the differential L1-RSRP. The differential L1-RSRP is the difference between a measurement value of the L1-RSRP and the highest value (strongest RSRP) of the L1-RSRP, see paragraph [0143]; best (strongest) L1-RSRPs in both the serving cell and the non-serving cell may be reported by using 7 bits, and the differential L1-RSRP of each beam in both the serving cell and the non-serving cell may be reported by using 4 bits, see paragraph [0146]),
wherein a largest measured L1-RSRP value of the resources associated with the second CMR set is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range [-140, -44] dBm with step size of 1dB (Matsumura: when one CSI report configuration includes different CMR groups ... subsequently an RS of the non-serving cell is mapped, in a report of each of the CMR groups (beam pairs) in the CSI report. In this case, the UE may report a 7-bit RSRP/SINR value (largest value) for each beam, see paragraph [0181]), and
wherein each of the other measured L1-RSRP values of the resources associated with the second CMR set is represented by a differential L1-RSRP value, which is quantized to a 4-bit value with step size of 2dB relative to the largest measured L1-RSRP value of the resources associated with the second CMR set (Matsumura: When a differential L1-RSRP is used, the highest measurement value of the L1-RSRP is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range of [−140, −44] dBm (with a step size of 1 dB), and a four-bit value is quantized as the differential L1-RSRP. The differential L1-RSRP is the difference between a measurement value of the L1-RSRP and the highest value (strongest RSRP) of the L1-RSRP, see paragraph [0143]; best (strongest) L1-RSRPs in both the serving cell and the non-serving cell may be reported by using 7 bits, and the differential L1-RSRP of each beam in both the serving cell and the non-serving cell may be reported by using 4 bits, see paragraph [0146]).
Regarding Claim 27, Matsumura teaches a base unit for wireless communication comprising: at least one memory (Matsumura: the above-described base station 10 ... may each be formed as a computer apparatus that includes ... a memory 1002, see paragraph [0307]); and
at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory (Matsumura: the above-described base station 10 ... may each be formed as a computer apparatus that includes a processor 1001 ... a bus 1007, see paragraph [0307]) and configured to cause the base unit to:
transmit a configuration of one channel measurement resource (CMR) set, wherein resources within the CMR set are associated with one or more non-serving cells for channel measurement that are associated with a CSI-ReportConfig information element (IE) with reportQuantity set to 'cri-RSRP' or 'ssb-Index-RSRP' (Matsumura: The UE may be notified of information related to CSI reporting ... by using an RRC information element “CSI-ReportConfig”, see paragraph [0045]; (CSI-ReportConfig) may include report quantity information (“report quantity” which may be expressed by an RRC parameter “reportQuantity”), which is information of a parameter to be reported ... one of parameters defined as the report quantity information (such as cri-RSRP and ssb-Index-RSRP) is configured, see paragraph [0056]; a CSI report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) includes “resourcesForChannelMeasurement”, see paragraph [0101]; Separate channel state information (CSI) report configurations (CSI-ReportConfig) may be configured for an RS of the serving cell and an RS of the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0104]); and
receive a channel state information (CSI) report configured by the CSI-ReportConfig IE and including K >=1 CSI-RS resource indicators (CRIs) or synchronization signal block resource indicators (SSBRIs) and a measured layer 1 reference signal resource power (L1-RSRP) value for a resource associated with a non-serving cell indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs, wherein K is a number of beams of the one or more non-serving cells (Matsumura: a UE measures a channel state by using a certain reference signal (or a resource for the reference signal) and feeds back (reports) channel state information (CSI) to a base station, see paragraph [0039]; The UE configured with the higher layer parameter (for example, an RRC parameter “groupBasedBeamReporting”) included in the CSI report configuration information being enabled may include, in a beam report, a plurality of resource IDs for beam measurement (for example, SSBRIs and CRIs) and a plurality of measurement results (for example, L1-RSRPs) corresponding to the resource IDs for each report configuration, see paragraph [0057]; The number of beams to be reported for the ... non-serving cell may be defined in a specification or may be configured by RRC/MAC CE/DCI or the like in advance, see paragraph [0160]).
Regarding Claims 29-31 and 32, the limitations of the claims are substantially the same as the limitations of claims 18-20 and 25, and are therefore rejected for the same reasons.
Regarding Claims 33 and 35, the limitations of the claims are substantially the same as the limitations of claim 16, and are therefore rejected for the same reasons.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 17, 28, and 34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura in view of Zhu et al. (US 2022/0216904 A1, hereinafter “Zhu”).
Regarding Claim 17, Matsumura teaches the UE of claim 16, wherein, when a number of the one or more non-serving cells is smaller than K, K is configured as a multiple P of the number of non-serving cells, and the resources indicated by every P of the K CRIs or SSBRIs are associated with a different non-serving cell (Matsumura: For example, when it is configured so that two beams are reported for ... the non-serving cell ... reporting of the last two beams (CRIs or CCBRIs) in the CSI reporting is reporting corresponding to the non-serving cell, see paragraph [0161]).
Matsumura does not explicitly teach, when a number of the one or more non-serving cells is equal to or larger than K, the resource indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs is associated with a different non-serving cell.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Zhu teaches when a number of the one or more non-serving cells is equal to or larger than K, the resource indicated by each of the K CRIs or SSBRIs is associated with a different non-serving cell (Zhu: the k-th entry (i.e., L_nsc[k]) in the set of M_nsc values/quantities indicating the L_nsc BM-RI pairs/beam qualities to be reported in the same CSI reporting instance/CSI report for the M_nsc non-serving cell(s) is associated with/linked to the k-th non-serving cell PCI among the M_nsc non-serving cell PCIs, where k=1, 2, . . . , M_nsc, see paragraph [0335]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Matsumura to include the features as taught by Zhu above in order to enhance beam reporting for inter-cell mobility (Zhu: see paragraph [0147]).
Regarding Claims 28 and 34, the limitations of the claims are substantially the same as the limitations of claim 17, and are therefore rejected for the same reasons.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chung et al. (US 2024/0187064 A1) teaches a UE receiving a CSI-ReportConfig IE with reportQuantity set to 'cri-RSRP' or 'ssb-Index-RSRP' (see paragraphs [0192], [0206]) reporting K beam measurements for serving or non-serving cells (see paragraphs [0159], [0161]). Wang et al. (US 2024/0080148 A1) teaches neighboring non-serving cells associated with different PCIs, all SSBs within one CMR set/subset being associated with one non-serving cell, and each SSB within one CMR set/subset being associated with a different non-serving cell (see paragraphs [0083]-[0091]).
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILLIP J EGAN KEARNS whose telephone number is 571-272-4869. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 10-6 MST.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NOEL BEHARRY can be reached at 571-270-5630. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/P.K./Examiner, Art Unit 2416
/NOEL R BEHARRY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2416
Prosecution Insights